30-07-2025
Jackals find homes near human habitats in Kerala: Survey
Kochi: A survey conducted by an environmental group found that Kerala has an estimated population of 20,000 to 30,000 golden jackals, locally known as kurukkan or kurunari.
The survey confirmed the jackal's presence in approximately 70% of the villages from where responses were collected by 2,200 participants.
It was found that the jackals have a strong preference for lowland plains below 200m above sea level.
The report, 'Uncelebrated Wanderers: Unravelling the Mysteries of Kerala's Golden Jackals', released on Monday shows that their most common habitats are not dense forests but rather human-modified landscapes, including cashew, coconut, rubber and mango plantations, as well as paddy fields and rural settlements.
Their presence in and around urban centres like Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram highlights their ability to survive in human-dominated environments.
The report, prepared by Aranyakam Nature Foundation, a group of environmental experts, notes their adaptability in surviving on organic waste in the coastal areas of Malappuram. Notably, no reports of their presence came from the western parts of the Vembanad Lake region, including the Alappuzha coast, which could be attributed to waterlogged terrain and dense infrastructure acting as barriers.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Similarly, their presence was surprisingly low in the open plains of Attappadi, which researchers suggest could be due to competition with other predators or subtle habitat factors.
Meanwhile, jackals are rarely seen in the protected forests of Western Ghats, as the dense and rugged terrain is not their preferred habitat. However, isolated sightings from high-altitude areas, such as Munnar and Eravikulam, suggest that small populations may be able to adapt to colder climates.
Providing deeper ecological insights, it was found that residents in Wayanad noted that jackals helped control wild boar populations by preying on their juveniles. The residents suggested to the surveyors that the jackals themselves have vanished due to the excessive use of pesticides like Furadan. In Palakkad, communities linked the decline in jackals to a rise in the peafowl population, warranting scientific study to confirm their ecological basis.
"We did not know anything about the golden jackals, a species which very much lived amongst us. That inquisitiveness nudged us to conduct the study, which helped us to know the distribution pattern in the state. We need to conduct more studies on its behaviour, food and other facets," said Dr P S Easa, an elephant expert who is part of the study.
A key finding was the public perception of jackals. At least 75% of the respondents do not view them as a nuisance.
However, about a quarter of the respondents expressed concern, due to poultry predation and rare rabies-related incidents.
Raising concerns, the study also highlights a curious linguistic, cultural, and identity crisis jackals face. There is a growing trend among the younger, urban generation to use the term 'kurunari' exclusively. This shift is causing misidentification and a slow erosion of local knowledge.
In some parts of Kerala, the rarer term 'Oolan' is still in use. However, its exact reference is becoming unclear to many, reflecting a more profound uncertainty about the animal's identity in the collective consciousness of Kerala society.
Although the golden jackal population in Kerala seems to be stable, the report identifies significant threats. Habitat loss due to landscape changes, health issues arising from dependency on garbage, and potential hybridisation with stray dogs are substantial concerns. This genetic mixing could compromise the jackal's long-term genetic integrity, a subject that warrants urgent research.
